Accessibility Links

Five killed as stage collapses on to crowd

August 15 2011, 1:01am, The Times

Concert-goers gather around the collapsed stageJoey Foley

A memorial service will be held at the Indiana State Fair this morning for five people who were killed when a giant stage roof swayed forward on its steel frame and collapsed on to a crowd of country music fans on Saturday evening.

Forty-five people were injured and many were still in hospital yesterday as officials began to investigate why the giant rigging had given way when a fierce gust of wind tore through the fairground shortly before 9pm.

It had been a blustery evening at the fair. The pop singer Sara Bareilles had just left the stage, saying it was a beautiful night, but storm clouds were approaching. The organisers were monitoring a pattern of severe weather, expected to arrive at 9.15pm, and had…

Want to read more?

Subscribe now and get unlimited digital access on web and our smartphone and tablet apps, free for your first month.